Greer focused on upping his own pace after positive C3 test
Jonny Greer is aiming to get up to speed quickly as he makes his Citroen C3 R5’s Irish Tarmac Championship debut on this weekend’s West Cork Rally. The Northern Irishman was able to test the car last Saturday, using it as a course car on the Bishopscourt Stages Rally.
“The car responded quite well,” said Greer. “So we’re just looking forward to seeing what it’s like on a road in comparison to the circuit.
“The two cars [DS3 and C3] are very different. There are not really any similarities between the two, apart from the badge at the front.
“It’s hard to compare all three R5s that I have driven, they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.”
The 31-year-old has been interested in Citroen’s newest R5 challenger for over a year but has had to wait patiently for the chance to get his hands on one. In the meantime, he has used a Fiesta R5. Looking back, Greer could see the benefits of the delay and he is confident the C3 has already gone through its development phase since its launch two years ago.
“I had to test and develop the DS3 and there was a phase when I had to try a lot of different things to get the car to work but I don’t think this car will be like that.
“When we started with the DS3 we went from the very beginning so we had the job of developing the car in Ireland while the car was still being developed itself.
“With the C3, we’re getting involved at a later stage which is good as you can see how much development they have made to the car since I first drove it at the end of 2018.”
Greer finished fifth in a highly competitive Irish Tarmac Championship last year taking podium positions on the Easter Stages Rally and the Cork 20 Rally. The West Cork Rally, however, is one Greer feels less comfortable with after finishing 10th on the event last year.
“I have always struggled with the high-speed nature of the stages,” explained Greer. “We’re going to the rally to perform as well as we can.
“The car has given me the confidence to know that it is in a good place so I don’t need to worry about that. It’s just how quickly I can get onto the car which is the only variable really.
“The main aim is to be setting competitive times if not at the end of the first day then by the end of the second day.”
Beyond the West Cork Rally Greer will compete in the remainder of the Irish Tarmac Championship with the potential of doing some British Rally Championship rounds as well.
Photo by Roy Dempster
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